Methods: 13 patients with the mean age of 27.46 years were included in this study. Cone beam computed tomogram was use to evaluate the alveolar bone changes following decortication-assisted mandibular molar protraction. Changes of bucco-lingual alveolar bone thickness, buccal and lingual marginal bone level and crestal bone height were assessed from pre-protraction (T0) and 3 months post-protraction (T1).
Results: The bucco-lingual alveolar bone thickness of edentulous ridge was statistically significant increased (p < .05). The marginal bone level and the crestal bone height were statistically significant decreased (p < .05).
Conclusions: Decortication-assisted mandibular molar protraction could be move the mandibular second molar forward through the atrophic edentulous area with the surrounding bone.